Peach-brushing apparatus.



T. J. MILLER & G. ALLSUP. PEACH BRUSHING APPARATUS.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

ST PART FFTCE.

THOMAS J. MILLER AND GEORGE ALLSUP, OF BIGGS, OREGON.

PEACH-BRUSI-IING APPARATUS.

1,o13,5oe.

States, and residents, respectively, of Biggs,

Sherman county, State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Peach-Brushing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

, It is well known that peaches grown 1n dry countries, by reason of their velvety skins, become coated with the dust in the air, and have to be brushed in order to remove the dust, before being sent into the market. This work of brushing the peaches is very laborious and time consuming.

Hence our invention has for its object to perform such work by mechanical means so contrived as to work rapidly but without bruising the fruit.

e accomplish our object by rolling the peaches through an inclined tube or chute made of open mesh fabric, such, for example, as netting, coarse burlap, and equivalent material, and providing a padded receptacle for receiving the peaches as they drop from the discharge end of the tube.

' Our apparatus is constructed as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the construction and arrangement of our apparatus as used in practice; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sect-ion of the receivlng end of the dust removing tube; Fig. 3 is a cross section of such dust-removing tube, the section being taken on line 0000 of Fig. 2; Fig. 41- shows a longitudinal section of the discharge end of the dust-removing tube; Fig. 5 is a partial longitudinal section of the padded trough or receptacle in which the fruit 1s received from the dust-removing tube; and Fig. 6 is a cross sect-ion of such trough or receptacle.

The dust-removing tube, a, is made, as mentioned, of any suitable open mesh fabric, such as netting, coarse burlap, or equivalent material. It is convenient to make it of a long strip of material, the sides of which are brought together in the form of a circle, as illustrated in Fig. 3, such sides being clamped together bet-ween two slats, b, 0, by means of screw-bolts d.

In the upper end of the dust-removing tube, or, is inserted a receiver 6, comprising a circular body portion f, which is fastened in the receiving end of the dust-removing tube so as to expand such end to circular Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 2, 1911.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912. Serial No. 652,451.

form. The top and side portions of the receiver, e, are cut away as at e, and the bot tom g of the receiver 6 is padded, so as to prevent the bruising of the fruit while dropped on the receiving end (6) of the receiver e. The latter is necessary not only to hold open the receiving end of the tube, but also to provide a fixed surface, like 9, for the peaches to roll along, some distance, in order to acquire sufficient speed before starting to roll through the body of the tube; otherwise the peaches might be arrested by the meshes of the tube body.

The discharge end of the dust-removing tube, a, is fastened to the interior of a hoop or ring, it, so as to hold it expanded and thus provide for the ready discharge of the fruit into the trough or receptacle 2'. The latter comprises a bottom j, which is padded so as to prevent the fruit from being bruised as discharged into the trough. The sides, 7c, is, of the trough are also padded, as shown in Fig. 5; and the head ends are also padded for the same purpose, as illustrated at m.

The receiving end of the dust-removing tube, a, is suspended from a tripod n, pr0- vided with a vertically adjustable rod 0, having a hook 0 and secured in position by a thumb screw 22. The hook 0 is engaged with the hook e of the hoop or band 6 The receiving end of the trough is supported on a stool on the upper end of which is fastened a bow frame 7, by which the discharge end of the dust-removing tube, a, is suspended by fastening the hook h of the hoop h on the bow frame 1. The headend of the trough, z', is suspended by a cable 8, winding on a windlass t, provided on the stool u; the cable 8 being fastened to the bail m.

The object of the Windlass is to be able to give the trough i the required inclination, and cause the fruit as discharged thereon from the dust-removing tube, a, to roll gently toward the head-end (m) of the trough, from which head-end it may then be conveniently removed for packing in boxes.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for the purpose mentioned comprising supporting means; a dustremoving tube made of open mesh flexible fabric; means for maintaining said tube longitudinally extended; a receiver, of substantially inflexible material, secured in the receiving end of said tube for holding said end open, said receiver made with a yielding interior surface for the purpose specified; means for holding the discharge-end of said tube open; and a trough made with an interior padding adapted for receiving the discharge end of said tube.

2. An apparatus for the purpose men tioned comprising adjustable supporting means; a dust-removing tube made of open mesh flexible fabric; means for maintaining said tube longitudinally extended a receiver, of substantially inflexible material, secured in the receiving end of said tube for holding said end open, said receiver made with a yielding interior surface for the purpose specified; means for holding the discharge-end of said tube open; and a trough made with an interior padding adapted for receiving the discharge end of said tube.

3. An apparatus for the purpose mentioned comprising supporting means; a dustremoving tube made of flexible netting; means for maintaining said tube longitudinally extended; a receiver, of substantially inflexible material, secured in the receiving end of said tube for holding said end open, said receiver made with a yield ing interior surface for the purpose specified; means for holding the discharge-end of said tube open; and a trough made with an interior padding adapted for receiving the discharge end of said tube.

a. An apparatus for the purpose mentioned comprising a dust-removing tube made of open mesh flexible fabric; means for maintaining said tube longitudinally extended; a receiver, of substantially inflexible material, secured in the receiving end of said tube for holding said end open, said receiver made with a yielding interior surface for the purpose specified; an adjustable stand and means for removably supporting the receiving end of said tube on such stand; means for holding the discharge-end of said tube open; a trough made with an interior padding adapted for receiving the discharge of said tube; means for supporting the discharge end of said tube over said trough; and a stand including means for supporting the outer end of said trough vertically adjustable.

5. An apparatus for the purpose mentioned comprising a dust removing tube made of open mesh flexible fabric; means for maintaining said tube longitudinally extended; a receiver, of substantially inflexible material, secured in the receiving end of said tube for holding said end open, said receiver made with a yielding interior surface for the purpose specified; an adjustable stand and means for removably supporting the receiving end of said tube on such stand; means for holding the discharge-end of said tube open; a trough made with an interior padding adapted for receiving the discharge of said tube; means for supporting the discharge end of said tube over said trough; and a stand including a Windlass element for supporting the outer end of said trough vertically adjustable.

6. An apparatus for the purpose mentioned comprising a dust-removing tube made of flexible netting; means for maintaining said tube longitudinally extended; a receiver, of substantially inflexible material, secured in the receiving end of said tube for holding said end open, said receiver made with a yielding interior surface for the purpose specified; an adjustable stand and means for removably sup porting the receiving end of said tube on such stand; means for holding the discharge-end of said tube open; a trough made with an interior padding adapted for receiving the discharge of said tube; means for supporting the discharge end of said tube over said trough; and a stand including means for supporting the outer end of said trough vertically adjustable.

THOMAS J. MILLER. GEORGE ALLSUP.

WVitnesses:

F. R. FORTNER, MELVIN D. BEER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

